Old Boys in the News – December 2019

Our Old Boys have been busy, including:

Dominic Hanrahan with daughter Gemma. Photo by Kate Healy.

• Great to see Gemma Hanrahan recognised for saving her father Dominic’s (SPC 1986-87) life after he was flattened by a cow on their farm and suffered a seizure. Gemma has been awarded an Ambulance Victoria Community Hero Award for her bravery. Dominic is also father of this year’s College Captain Aidan Hanrahan. To read more, click here
• Well done to talented artist Josh Muir (SPC 2004-07, PY2009) who has a new mural at Alfred Deakin Place in Ballarat’s CBD. It is the inuaugural artwork in the space, which will be rotated every 12 months. To read more and listen to Josh explaining the creative process behind his work, click here
• Congratulations to Sam Oostendorp (SPC 2011-16) who has been named in the preliminary Victorian coxed four training squad ahead of next year’s National Rowing Championships. Well done Sam!
• Redan coach Ryan Waight (SPC 1998-2003) has recruited fellow Old Boys Ryan Bell (SPC 2010) following a sting with the Geelong West Giants as well as Max Eastman (SPC 2016-18) from Hepburn and Josh Partington (SPC 2012-17) from North Ballarat. To read more, click here
• John Shanahan (SPC 1967-69) speaks out about the need for action on government wellbeing strategy talks and calls for a national royal commission into veterans’ suicide. To read more, click here
• Nick Sullivan (SPC 2001-06) is returning to Waubra in the Central Highlands FL in 2020 after a stint with Beaufort. To read more, click here
• Gavin Bowler (SPC 1992-97) features in a great story about family tradition at Delacombe Community Kindergarten. To read more, click here
• Look out for Rhys Monument (SPC 2006-11) and Sam Willian (SPC 2008-13) who will be lining up for Skipton in the Central Highlands FL. To read more, click here
• Congratulations to James Costigan (SPC 2007-12) who is now a qualified arborist. We shared these photos of James on a normal working day in an earlier edition of the Green, White and Blue.
• Old Collegian and district farmer Adam Ludbrook (SPC 1993-98) is among a group of farmers who have raised concerns over damage including broken fences, caused to their properties by a new rail line being built near Millbrook. To
  

  Sam Oostendorp.

  read more, click here

• Read what Andrew Jirik (SPC 1980-85) has to say about the state of parish finances across western Victoria as he urges more Catholics to support their parishes. Andrew is the business manager for the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat and that not all 116 churches in the diocese might survive. To read his blunt message, click here
• Nick Rippon (SPC 2007-12) will line up with Lake Wendouree in the Ballarat Football League next season. Nick is set to miss a substantial part of the season travelling overseas. This follows early news that Nick and fellow Old Boy Mitch Rodd (SPC 2006-10), were parting ways with North Melbourne in the VFL. The pair joined the Kangas in 2018 after the North Ballarat Roosters disbanded. To read more, click here and here
• Well done to Old Boy and horse trainer Patrick Payne (SPC 1988-89, PY1993) who took home second prize in the listed $500,000 Sportsbet Ballarat Cup, 2000m, with his Cup hope, Double You Tee. It was his first starter in the Ballarat Cup as a trainer. To read more about the Plumpton-based trainer, please click here
• Well done to jockey Ben Melham (SPC 2000-03, PY2005) who won the 1000m Magic Mllions 2YO Clockwise Classic on Ballarat Cup day aboard Euphoric Summer.
• Old Boy David Mulraney (SPC 2003-06) is one of the city’s tech experts working to arm community members with knowledge to safeguard against the dangers of technology in family violence. To read more, click here
• Congratulations to former boarder Mitchell McCrow (SPC 2011-14) who has graduated with a teaching degree and will start teaching at St Aloysius Primary School in Redan next year. Well done Mitch!
• Warrenheip father and son Andrew and Chad Peterkin (SPC 2014-17, PY2019) created what might be a first in the Victorian sheaftossing championship at the Ballarat Show, with dad Andrew taking out the state title for a 15^th time, edging out Chad by a mere 0.25m – an al-time personal best for Chad. To read more, click here
• The late Danny Frawley (SPC 1976-79, PY1981) will be remembered with a test of grit in the Ballarat Cycle Classic, with the SPUD100, a new 160km (100-mile) endurance ride, taking riders up Mount Buninyong, through the potato farms of Danny’s home district Bungaree and through Mollonghip and Dean back to Lake Wendouree. Danny supported the Cycle Classic since its inaugural event in 2008 as event ambassador. Fellow Old Collegian and event ambassador Steve Moneghetti (SPC 1975-80) supported the ride named in Danny’s tribute. To read more, click here and here
  

  Andrew Jirik.

• Good on Old Collegian Brendan Siebring (SPC 2012-17) who was among the musicians wowing the crowds during the first-ever open-air car park event at Ballarat’s Central Square recently as part of the inaugural Fringe Benefits line-up on the eve of the Spilt Milk festival. To read more , click here
• Matt Short (SPC 2008-13) was on fire for Victoria against NSW in the One-Dayer at the MCG, making 88 runs off 85 deliveries to help the Vics achieve a six-run win over the interstate foes. To read more, click here
• Congratulations to George Helon (SPC 1980-82, PY1983) who has been nominated for the 2019 QBANK Everyday Heroes Award – Volunteer and also attended an Awards Presentation Dinner in Brisbane recently to receive a Certificate of Nomination for Queensland Community Achievement Award. The award citation recognised George “has been instrumental in enriching the lives of hundreds of people who would have otherwise found themselves disadvantaged during times of trauma, accident, emergency and hospitalisation”. Well done George! To find out more about George’s work, click here
• Great to see Laurie Larmer (SPC 1935-40) featured in the Remembrance Day coverage in this TV footage, click here
• Old Boy Steve Moneghetti (SPC 1975-80) was lending advice to those participating in the second annual Hopathon in Ballarat, which raises funds for charity. To read more, click here
• Around 60 people attended the final Mass at St Joseph’s Catholic Church at Buangor recently. Old Collegians, Fr Justin Driscoll (SPC 1981-82) celebrated Mass and John Jess (SPC 1968-73) welcome the gathering, speaking about the significance of the event and that the local community was pleased the church was to be restored and looked after, as part of a project for the new owner.
• We wish Old Collegian Michael Taffe (SPC 1960-61, PY1964) well after stepping down after many years as Diocesan Archivist with the Ballarat Diocesan Historical Commission.
• Well done to Brandon Lauton (SPC 2012-17) who finally made his A-League debut recently for Melbourne Victory against Western United in the inaugural A-League season. Brandon played 79 minutes in his debut, to read more, click here
  

  Fully qualified arborist James Costigan.

• Congratulations to Mark Reedy (SPC 1976-79) who has been appointed to Assistant Principal (Learning and Teaching) at St Bernard’s College in Melbourne, following a successful stint as Acting Assistant Principal. In the Principal’s recent letter to his school community, Adam Taylor has commended Mark for steering “the completion of the College’s Vision for Learning which will guide the development of curriculum at St Bernard’s College over the next several years. His proven leadership capacities will ensure continued growth and development in our learning and teaching”.
  

  George Helon with his community achievement award.